Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Strata One
IWA WIWAHA 1111026000094
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA
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Actualization in The Equalizer Movie.Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities Faculty of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta 2016.
This research is aimed at finding out the way of Robert McCall reaches his self-actualization in his new life based on Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham Maslow’s concept. This research also analyzes characteristic of self-actualization person that McCall has. This research identifies the problem of McCall needs which are revealed in his way to get self-actualization and how he fulfilling his needs. The method that is used in this research is descriptive qualitative. The data are analyzed by reading, understanding and identifying.
From the data analysis, this research finds out Robert McCall in The Equalizer movie could fulfill his four basic needs in his new life and reach self-actualization that he could not get in his old life when he working with CIA because he has promise to his wife. In his new life McCall break his promises to helping Alina and he get his actualization. Thus, the characteristic of actualization person appears on McCall during the way that he reach his self-actualization.
ii A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Strata One Degree (S1)
IWA WIWAHA NIM. 1111026000094
Approved by:
Advisor
AKHMAD ZAKKY M.Hum
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA
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knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.
Jakarta, September 2016
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All praises be to Allah SWT, the lord of universe, with His mercy and guidance, the writer can accomplish the process of making this thesis. The blessing and salutation are focused consistently for the messenger of Allah SWT – the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his disciples, and his followers.
The writer would like to express his gratitude to his treasured, Ati Jumiati who always do the best things and provide innumerable useful suggestion, prayer and financial support during the lifetime The writer also would like to thank to his brother and Sister; Wisnu Mulyana, Teh Puput, Rifky Maulana and Dhea Nur Pratiwi who motivate him to finish his study as soon as possible. Most of all, he dedicated this thesis for his beloved father, H. Ujang Suparkah (may Allah bless him) who had passed away.
The writer does not ever forget to mention his advisors; Mr. Akhmad Zakky M.Hum. for the great patients, times and advices on finishing this thesis. Thanks for all the contributions, may Allah SWT bless you and your family.
The writer also would like to convey his sincere gratitude particularly to: 1. Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M. Hum., the Dean of Letters and Humanities
Faculty.
2. Drs. Saefudin, M.Pd., the Head of English Letters Department.
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educated her study in State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
6. All of the Librarians of Faculty of Letters and Humanities, the Central Library of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah, and The Central Library of University of Indonesia.
7. All lecturers of English Letters Department for their encouragement to the writer.
8. The beloved parents and the big family for their love, patient, and support.
9. All of his lovely friends; Sultahn, Adhi, Chipunk, Noval, Syatria, Lay, Aab, Samine, Ega, Tanto, Jaisy, Jawir, Alawiyah, ANAK KOSTAN, ELD ’11, ELDC, Literature Class 2011, HMJ BSI, MEL, RUSABESI and all for the greatest memories in the college.
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APPROVEMENT ii
LEGALIZATION iii
DECLARATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
TABLE OF CONTENTS x
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1
A. Background of the Study 1
B. Focus of the Study 4
C. Research Question 4
D. Significance of the Research 5
E. Research Methodology 5
1. The Objective of the Research 5
2. The Method of the Research 5
3. The Technique of Data Analysis 5
4. The Instrument of the Research 6
5. Unit of Analysis 6
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1. Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Human Needs Concept 9 2. Characteristics of Self-Actualization...14
CHAPTER III. RESEARCH FINDINGS 16
A. Hierarchy of Needs Robert McCall 16
B. Characteristic Self-Actualization’s McCall 24
CHAPTER IV. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 32
A. Conclusions 32
B. Suggestions 34
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Film has a character who has been described by the author and character in the film has a certain psychological aspects. In the other hand, psychology is the science which aims on aspects of the human psyche. Psychology seeks to understand the whole person, which only get through an understanding of personality. In addition, literature and psychology can be united in its role towards life, because they both have a function in life, where both of these are dealing with human beings as individual and social beings. According Endaswara psychology and literature make the experience as study, therefore, approach of the psychologist is considered important in the study of literature (Minderop 2).
psychology and literature, there are: a) analyzing the psychological author study as type or individual, b) analyzing the creativity process, c) analyzing the types and psychological rules which are applied in fictional characters about the psychiatric literature, d) analyzing the effects of reader’s psychology (90).
From that several ways, the researcher takes the third way to conduct the research. In this research, the researcher takes Robert McCall character in the Equalizerfilm as the research subject and focuses on psychological aspect.
Robert McCall is a retired black ops operative who quietly lives in Boston, works at Home Mart hardware store, where he befriends many of his co-workers, and help a security guard trainee named Ralph pass his qualification exam. McCall promised his recently deceased wife that he would leave his old life behind. McCall always spends some late night reading in a 24/7 Dinner, where he befriends Alina, a teenage prostitute for the Russian Mafia.
One night, Alina hospitalized following a brutal beating by her pimp, Slavi. McCall enters a restaurant owned by the Russian mob and offers to buy Alina’s freedom from Slavi for $9,800 but Slavi refuses, dismissing McCall as old and impotent. Failing in this approach, McCall considers the room. He subsequently kills Slavi and four of his men with skillful close combat efficiency.
the money they have extorted, threatening to publicize their crimes with video that he shoot of them accepting protection money from Ralph’s mother.
McCall decides to visit his old friend; retired CIA operatives Susan and Brian in Virginia, to get more information about Pushkin and his men. McCall has all information about Pushkin, the he travel to Moscow to confront Pushkin and kills him. McCall returns to Boston and he decides to continue using his skill to help people in need and post an online advertisement, now identifying himself as “The Equalizer”. He soon receives another please for help and agrees to answer it.
The writer is interested to analyze this film because it offers a way Robert McCall who decides creates a new life and get self-actualization that he could not get in his old life. Moreover, this film presented with many moral values in life which can inspire all the audience to do the right thing to get a peace in life.
to give more understanding about how importance to be aware with the existence of individual potentials which needs to be explored and developed through self-actualization.
Self-actualization includes the psychological study of personality by Maslow. In his thought, Maslow put self-actualization on hierarchy needs theory. The hierarchy needs are arranged starting to form physiological need, safety need, love and belongingness need, esteem need and self-actualization need. Maslow in J. Fiest states that, the whole person is motivated constantly by one another and that people have potential to grow toward psychological health that is self-actualization. In attaining self-actualization, people must satisfy lower level needs such as hunger, safety, love and esteem. After those needs are relatively satisfied in each of these needs, so they can reach self-actualization (281).
Finally, Hierarchy of Human Needs is matches concept to analyze the Robert McCall character in The Equalizer film and the study entitled “An Analysis of Robert McCall’s Self-Actualization inThe EqualizerMovie”.
A. Focus of the Study
In this research, the writer will focus on the character Robert McCall, and concentrated how to understand the needs fulfilled by Robert McCall by using Hierarchy of Human Needs Theory of Abraham H. Maslow.
B. Research Question
1. How does Robert McCall reach self-actualization in his new life through Hierarchy of Human Needs concept belong to Abraham Maslow?
2. How does characteristic of self-actualization person appears in
McCallthrough Hierarchy of Human Needs concept belong to Abraham Maslow?
C. Significance of the Study
The writer hopes through this research has benefit for the reader. It is also to give academic contribution for English Letters Department. The analysis is specially to be useful for readers who want to understand the character in film though by hierarchy of human needs from Abraham Harold Maslow.
D. Methodology of the Research
The methodology of this research is including some effects of the research such as:
1. The Method of the Research
The writer use descriptive-qualitative methods. Qualitative methods are ways of collecting data which are concerned with describing meaning, rather than with drawing statistical inferences (Holah, Karoo. Academic Journal: Quantitative and Qualitative). They provide a more in depth and rich description.
2. Objective of the Research
The objective of the research is to answer the question of the research question. It is specifically to know what motivate and needs that main figure Robert McCall learn in the hierarchy of human needs from Abraham Harold Maslow theory.
3. Technique of Data Analysis
The writer uses the descriptive analytic technique to analyze Robert McCall’s character by Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham H. Maslow’s approach based on critical study and analysis to the qualitative data. First, the writer watches the film carefully for several times, to learn and get the point contents of the film intensively. Then, the writer marks the scripts of the film to underline and understanding the film. Finally, the writer explains and analysis the data, such as the dialogues and pictures of this film based on the Theory of Human Needs.
4. Instrument of the Research
The writer himself is as the main instrument of this research. The writer watches The Equalizer the data with closer and deeply, in order to identify and analysis the main character Robert McCall to find out the evidences of the fulfillment Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham Harold Maslow.
5. Unit of Analysis
6. Time and Place of the Research
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This chapter will explain the concept and facts used to analyze the data and answer the research question; 1) How does Robert McCall reach self-actualization in his new life? 2) How does characteristic of self-self-actualization person appears in McCall? The hierarchy of human needs concept by Abraham Harold Maslow to analyze how Robert McCall in The equalizer film fulfills his hierarchy of needs. Then, this research will depict how characteristics of self-actualization person appears on Robert McCall.
A. Previous Research
The research takes The Equalizer film by Antoine Fuqua as corpus is rarely founded. However, the writer takes two researches in other thesis with similar analysis about Hierarchy of Human Needs. The first one is “Analisis Aktualisasi Diri Ipssak Dalam Film Madangeul Naon Amthak: Kajian Psikologi Humanistik Abraham Maslow” which written by Antin Irsanti in 2013 at Gadjah
Mada University, and the second is “self Actualization the Main Character on the Into The Wild Film.” Which written by TB. Faisal Sahuri in 2010 at UIN Sayarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
and keep fighting to survive in the nature. This research uses theory of Abraham Maslow's self-actualization. In addition, this research also uses the theory of self-concept as a supporting factor to achieve the self-actualization of Ipssak. The results of this research indicates that Ipssak can actualize herself by fulfilled the four basic needs of Abraham Maslow's theory which are physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, and self-esteem needs. Ipssak also has the characteristics of self-actualizing person as she can see life clearly, devotes herself to her work or duties, has spontaneity and creativity, has low self-conflict, has psychological independence, and simply enjoys life and practical in all aspects.
The second research discusses about finding out character of Cristopher McCandleess as the main character in the film Into The Wild. This research descibed the way of Cristopher McCandless reaches his self actualization throuhg his journey into the wild in Alaska based on Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham Maslow’s concept. This research also identifies the problem of McCandless needs which are revealed in his searching for self actualization, and how McCandless fulfill his needs. This research use descriptive qualitative method.
B. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Concept
achieved is a self-actualization, the fulfillment of one’s greatest human potential. Maslow represent the hierarchy of human needs as a pyramid, with the larger to lower levels representing the need for self-actualization. Every level of pyramid is dependent on the previous level (Schultz 89).
The first needs in Maslow concept contain the set of phisiological needs necessary of bodily homeostatic, quiescence and survival. Moreover, the other level needs in maslow concept are psychological in nature human needs (J. Fiest 280).
The following Maslow’s concept represented as a pyramid below:
Picture:www.phychologytoday.com
1. Physiological needs
Someone who is getting less of food, self-esteem, and love, first, he will look for food formerly. Some people who are in a hunger and harm condition do not have other desires except looking for the food. For the prosperous community, these types of need generally have been fulfilled. When these basic needs are satisfied, the other needs on higher level will appear and dominate human behavior soon (Goble 71-72).
2. Safety need
After the basic needs are fulfilled, the second level need which Maslow states in his concept is the safety needs. This need is categorized as the needs of stability, protection, freedom from fear and anxiety; the need for structure, policy, law, norms, and so on. People who feels insecure has a need for regularity and stability and will try to avoid things that are unfamiliar and unexpected (Goble 73).
Maslow said that, safety needs is crucial for infants. This need can achieve by affects perception, job talk, deprivation and pathology. Adults have little awareness of their security needs except in times of emergency of periods of disorganization in the social structure. Children often display the signs of insecurity and the need to be safe. Adults’ safety needs perhaps more efficiency by observation of infants and children, in whom these needs are much more simple and obvious (21).
After fulfilling the safety need, thus, the belongingness and love need that include the need for a sense of belonging, trust, love, and compassion each other will be an important motivation for every individual. Generally, each individual will desire for relation of love with others, particularly the need for a sense of belonging within the group (Goble 74).
Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation. This involves both giving and receiving love, affection and the sense of belonging. For example, a person will seek for the sense of love and belongingness in relationship. Human beings need for friends, a sweetheart, a children, affectionate relationships in general, even a sense of community. For example, in our day to day life, we exhibit these needs in our desires to marry, have a family and be a part of community (Yahya 24).
4. Self-esteem needs
In this need level, Maslow differentiates the esteem needs into internally and externally. The first (internal) include the need for self-respect, confidence, competence, mastery, independence, achievement, adequacy, and freedom (liberty). The second (external) concerns the recognition of others, prestige, recognition, acceptance, fame, dignity, position, attention, appreciation or good name. People with enough self-esteem will be more confident. Thus they will be more potential and productive. On the other way, lack of self-esteem will cause a sense of low self-esteem, a sense of helplessness, even a sense of desperate and neurotic behavior (Maslow 76-77).
At the top level there is the self-actualization need. It is possessed by an individual who needs to grow, develop and use his/her abilities. In other words, it is a personal that needs to become as himself/herself and he/she can. This need is at the top level that appears after the needs below are satisfied (Goble 77). C. Characteristics of Self-Actualizing People
According to Abraham Maslow, there are some traits of some people who have actualized themselves (Goble 51-65), some of them are as follows:
1. Looking the life clearly.
People who actualize himself can see the world clearly whatever it is and they do not comply with their desire (Goble 51).
2. Dedicating themselves to their jobs and obligations.
People who are actualized themselves are ready to devote their whole bodies and minds to work, a certain call of duty which they regard as important thing. Because of a big responsibility, they will always do the best in their job as their ability (Goble 53).
3. Spontaneity and creativity.
The natures that are related to creativity are including flexibility, spontaneity, and courage, daring to make a mistake, open-mind and humility. The creativity is directing to the courage, the ability to endure, ignorance the critics and ridicules and resistance the influence of culture on their own (Goble 53).
The personalities of people who are actualized themselves are unity. It means that they do not fight against themselves as well as their passions in accordance with their considerations (Goble 55-56).
5. Having psychological freedom.
People who are actualized themselves are capable to take their own decisions even though they are against the public opinion. In addition, even they will not hesitate to reject public opinions if the opinions are not in line with their thoughts (Goble 59).
6. Acceptance
Accept themselves, other and the natural world the way they are. Sees human nature as is, have a lack of crippling guilt or shame, enjoy themselves without regret or apology, they have no unnecessary inhibitions.
7. Detachment: The Need for Privacy
Alone but not lonely, unflappable , retain dignity amid confusion and personal misfortunes, objective. They are self-starters, responsible for themselves, own their behavior.
8. Philosophical, Unhostile Sense on Humor
Jokes are teaching that carries over into everything they to do, see the real and true more easily, original, inventive and less inhibited.
9. Peak Experience
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In this chapter, the writer will analyze how does Robert McCall in The Equalizermovie fulfill the needs to reach self-actualization that McCall could not get in his old life through hierarchy concept of human needs that belongs to Abraham Maslow as explained in Chapter II. After that, this research will analyze how the characteristics of someone who achieves self-actualization according to Maslow appears on McCall.
A. McCall’s Self-Actualization
Self-actualization of Robert McCall in the Equalizer film is as a hero, he decides to use his own skill to help the other who in trouble or under pressure from evil men. McCall’s journey to become a hero describes the concept of self-actualization that belongs to Abraham Maslow. This concept includes four basic needs that must be fulfilled before a person reaches the fifth need, self-actualization, where the four basic needs here are commonly termed as the D-needs (Deficiency D-needs) and the fifth need is commonly called as B-D-needs (Being needs). In other words, when the B-needs are not fulfilled, it is unlikely that someone will get B-needs or achieve self-actualization.
needs, while the needs of the highest level or B-needs is filled by self-actualization.
First needs or physiological needs is the most basic needs which is very clear for the human to physically survive. The physiological needs are including the need to eat, drink, shelter and oxygen. Robert McCall in The Equalizershows that he could to fulfill the needs of these first since he lives in Boston city.
Picture 1
Furthemore, after the physiological needs are met, someone is driven to meet safety needs. Someone who has fulfilled physiological needs will be driven to achieve tranquility, stability and free from anxiety and criminality. In his new life, McCall works at hard store called Home Art. He works in various places in the hardware store; sometimes he is placed as a tool cutter, sometimes he is placed as delivery boy, and sometimes he becomes a cashier. His life is very dependent to the work he does. As an employee, McCall get the salaries in order to live his life. Then, McCall has a martial arts skill in which he can protect himself anytime he is in danger.
After the physiological needs and safety needs are met, the other needs that has to be met is love and belonging needs. These needs require a person to have a sense of love and a sense of belonging. It is not necessary it requires love from a girlfriend or wife, these needs can also be obtained by having love and affection from family or friends.
McCall : oh, watch it. Dont worry about it. Alina’s Friend : I can... It’s fine. Thank you.
McCall : Got it. How’s she doing? Alina. How she doing? Alina’s Friend : Who are you?
McCall : Just friend. Alina’s Friend : A guy hit her.
the owner of the cafe where they usually meet. McCall visits the hospital where Alina is treated for the victim of violence by Slavi. However, he does not meet Alina directly, instead he asks about her condition to Alina’s friend. McCall admits that Alina is his friend and he is worried about Alina’s condition at that moment. Therefore, the writer sees that McCall’s got this love and belongingness needs from Alina.
The last stage of the basic needs are self-esteem needs, the final requirement before McCall achieves self-actualization. McCall has a confident to help someone with his skill. Moreover, he could achieves this esteem needs from Susan.
McCall : I couldn’t tell you why it mattered. Why what they did to her. That mattered to me so much. One day somebody does something unspeakable to someone else, to someone you hardly knew, and you do something about it because you can.
(the Equalizer, 01: 19: 19 - 01:19:40) Brian : Everything allright? Were you able to help him?
Susan : He didn’t come for help. He came for permission.
whether she can help him or not, Susan answers that McCall does not come to ask for help, but asking for permission. Susan strongly believes in McCall’s ability that he can solve their problems without getting any help from others. Therefore, the fourth needs is fulfilled.
After four basic needs are met, McCall begin to compel to find the needs of self-actualization. In the old life McCall could not reach this needs because his wife did not agree him to do that job, McCall also promise before his wife death to begin a new life and forget his old life. In the other hand, after McCall begin his new life and he fulfill the basic needs, he could reach his self-actualization needs. Self-actualization is on the top level of the hierarchy concept of human needs by Abraham Maslow, this level can only be fulfilled when all levels of basic needs has already been fulfilled properly. This need will arise when a person has already achieved the physiological, had a sense of security, loved and cherished, and self-confidence.
The Equalizer movie tells the story of Robert McCall who is starting a new life, he achieves the four stages of basic needs; physiological, safety, love and belongingness and esteem needs. He also achieves self-actualization that he could not reach in when McCall working in CIA.
In his old life McCall could not get self-actualization because he feel guilty about his wife who does not agree with his job. Losing his wife become something that made McCall could not get his self-actualization in his old life.
Alina : Was there ever? McCall: Once.
Alina : Did you break her heart? McCall: She broke mine.
(The Equalizer, 00:17:09- 00:29:03) As the conversation above, when Alina ask McCall about his wife, McCall says “She broke mine” that mean McCall feeling broken heart after his wife died because he could not give what his wife wants, to quit his job and have much time with. Moreover, to resistance his broken heart, McCall tries do something that his wife does not reach in his life; read 100 books that everybody should read.
Alina :You always read books? McCall : My wife did. She.. Uh.
She was working through the 100 books everybody should read. She made it to 97, so i figured...I’d give it a shot. And one day we’d have something to talk about when we get together.
(The Equalizer, 00:17:54- 00:18:40) On the conversation above, McCall tells Alina about his wife’s wishes to read 100 books that everybody should read, but she just made it 97. McCall feels if he reach his wife’s wishes to read a 100 books, he could get much something to talk about with his wife in the next life. Although, that all does not make McCall feels comfortable because he could not be the person as he really wants.
Alina : You know, I see a lot of widowed guys.
Something in your eyes. You know, it’s not sad. Its’s just kind of.. Lost, you know?
From the conversation above Alina realize when he look at McCall’s eyes there something has lost in McCall. McCall also realize it, he knows this life is not a life what he wants but he could not escape from his promise to be a normally person with quiet life.
Picture 2
Picture above shows McCall did not feel comfortable, there something lost in McCall. He looks feel fidgety before he get a way to fulfill his self-actualization; helping Alina from Russian gang.
McCall : I’ve done some bad things in my life, Nicolai. Things I’m not proud of. I promises someone that I love very
much that I would never go back to being that person. But for you... I’m gonna make an exception.
Tedy : [Silent]
The conversation above is a way McCall could escape from his promises. McCall break his promises to someone that he love very much, his wife, for the sake of helping Alina. Nicolai (Tedy) is a person that Pushkin send to kill Alina and McCall.
The form self-actualization McCall is being someone who is able to help and give peace to others who are under pressure from the threat or crime. McCall knows that he has to be someone who can provide assistance to anyone who is under pressure because he can do it. McCall believes that using the abilities that he owns, he can help others. It could be proved by his statement to Susan, “you do something about it because you can.” Besides, McCall always give the opportunity, or second chance, to the evil man he faces to do the right things.
The form of McCall’s self-actualization appears when he helps Alina to get a worth life as she wants, protect Alina from Russian gang. After that, he helps Ralphie’s mother who has almost gone bankrupt because she was extorted by a corrupt police. He also helps Jeni loses her ring given by her mother because of the robbery at work. Finally, McCall makes a website for anyone who is in trouble and needs help in the face of the criminals he encounters.
Picture 3
Picture above shows the way McCall helps people who are in trouble. In the end of film, he makes a website because that way, he could interact with the other people who need help. It is the desire to be himself with all his ability that he had. McCall’s martial arts skills is exceptional. Therefore, he uses his ability to help others.
Pushkin : Tell me, what do you gain from my death? McCall : Peace.
(The Equalizer, 02: 01: 04 – 02: 01:15) From the conversation above is retrieved in a scene before Pushkin’s death. Peace is the reason why McCall kills Pushkin. Pushkin is the head of all the crimes that exist in Boston, therefore his death will give a freedom for Alina. B. McCall’s Self-actualization Characteristics
The form of self-actualization has the specific characteristics, which Maslow also provide characteristics of a person who has reached self-actualization. Thus, this research will analyze about some of the characteristics of self-actualization that appears in McCall when he reach self-actualization needs.
actualizing he can see life not only from one point of view. They also see people as a human being. They are able to see the lies, falseness and flaws that other people do, and also able to analyze critically and logically in life.
Teddy : You certainly have my attention. Because I can keep going.
McCall : Brick by brick. Dollar by dollar. Body by body. You can call your boss to shut down his operation. Tonight.
Teddy : That not much of an offer, only one you’re gonna get. McCall : When you pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too.
(The Equalizer, 01:32:12 – 01: 32: 34) From the conversation above, McCall shows characteristics of a person who has reached self-actualization. In a conversation with Teddy, McCall shows the first characteristic through his critic about Teddy and Pushkin’s business which harm many people in Boston city. So he asks Teddy to call his boss to close all their business. With McCall’s vision life, he gives an advice to Teddy, "when you pray for rain you gotta deal with the mood too." Those advice shows that
McCall see the reality of life more efficiently, when someone expects about something, they have to deal with the consequences.
Thesecondcharacteristic isaccepting of self and others. It makes a person regardless of social class, able to socialize with others, not dehumanize people and have a very high tolerance.
Alina : I’m sorry. I’m breaking the protocol, right? McCall : No, no. Listen. Hey, come on, sit down. Alina : Okay.
McCall : Come on, sit down.
Alina : All right. Sure I’m not interrupting anything? McCall : Yeah.
From the conversation above, McCall has a second self-actualization characteristic, he can accept the others regardless of social class. The conversation shows that Alina feels that she does not deserve to sit down close with McCall, she considers herself not to be in the same class as McCall, she feel the protocol was violated when she sits down closely with McCall. However, McCall does not care, he does not feel that they should be differentiated, so he asks Alina to sit down with him and start a conversation. It means that McCall could accept the other, he does not see social class as another person in his social life.
The third Characteristics of self-actualization is spontaneity, simplicity and fairness. In this case, self-actualizing marked correctly with all the actions,
behaviors and spontaneous ideas, natural and does not made-up. Someone who has these characteristics usually does not hesitate to be assertive in actions and explicit in talking that are not in accordance with good behavior like lies and inhumane social life. These characteristics appears when McCall face two cops who adverse the shopkeepers around the Boston area.
McCall : the people you took the money from, you should give it back.
Cop 1 : haha. Why would we do that?
McCall : That would be in the best interest of everyone. Cop 1 : Really?
McCall : Yeah.
Cop 2 : Maybe our best interest is to tie a back around you and throw you in the mystic, huh?
McCall : You supposed to stand for something, punk. Cop 1 : Fuck.
{Fighting and cops down}
McCall : Protect and serve, uphold the law. Justice. Remember? Cop 2 : Who the fuck are you?
an hour later you’ll watch the uncut version on every news outlet in the area. Now, I’m offering you a chance to do right thing. Take it.
(the Equalizer, 00:50: 51 – 00:52:00) In the conversation above, we can see actions that show the third characteristicof a self-actualization. McCall acts spontaneously provide assertive action to two corrupt police, who did illegal fees to the owners of shops around the Boston area. McCall tell them that the job they are supposed to do is to protect instead of giving misery to the citizen. McCall also gives an opportunity for the two police officers to do the right thing according to the police law. In other words, from the incident McCall tells explicitly and give lessons to something that does not go according to human social life.
The fourth and fifth characteristic is centered on the problem and also a high social consciousness, according to Maslow's self-actualization people will
use all thoughts, attitudes and ideas not for him alone but for the good and interest needed by many people. In this case we can clearly see if McCall is a person who acts not on the basis of his own needs, but he acts to against the criminals for goodness of many people. It also makes McCall has a high social consciousness.
Furthermore, the sixth characteristics of which appeared in McCall is creativity, these characteristics make people who have already actualized
Picture 4
Masters : We’ve got an empty script. “meclizine”, it’s use for airsickness.
Remar : Travel item purchased three days ago.
Bough an open-ended plane ticket to Mexico two days ago. Leave Logan 10 a.m tomorrow. Guy knew this was coming. He’s running.
Next, the seventh characteristic of self-actualization that appears on McCall is unhostile sense of humor, this characteristic likes joke but never hurt anyone, their jokes are full of meaning.
Alina : How many have you read, Robert? McCall : Ninety-one
Alina : Ninety-one books, though. You’re almost done. McCall : Almost.
Alina : What are you gonna do after that?
McCall : Singing lesson. Then I’m gonna open a donut factory. Alina : {Laughing}
McCall : I am what? Why you laughing? {laughing} {both of them laughing}
(The Equalizer, 00:18:38 – 00:19:02) At the conversation above, McCall shown that he have sense of humor that is full of meaning. When McCall almost complete reading a hundred books, Alina ask him what he will do after that. McCall tells her that he will join singing lesson then open donut factory which makes them both laugh. Singing and donuts are two things that Alina likes. McCall is joking by saying that he will join singing lesson and open a donut factory, but his joke is meaningful for Alina. In the other hand McCall wants Alina do what she likes.
Picture 5
In The Equalizer film, the characteristic of peak experience appears on McCall when he decides to help Alina. As seen on picture 4, McCall tries to validate and justify himself with his own intinsic value before going to help Alina. McCall’s mind always showing a part of conversation with Alina, “Alina: You and I known what really i am[..] McCall: Change your world, anything you
wanna be.”Those words always appear on McCall’s mind, before McCall finally decides to help Alina without fear, doubt and anxiety. It shows that McCall have a peak experience before he really decides to help Alina.
32 A. Conclusions
The Equalizer film tells a story about a man named Robert McCall who decided to create a new life. The story begin when McCall tries to get a new life after he quit from being an agent which cooperative with CIA. He tries to start a new life in Boston City because of his promise to his wife for leaving his old life. Thus, McCall works at hardware store called Home Art and he starts a friendship with other workers, like Ralph and Jeni. McCall meets someone named Alina in the cafe where he spends the night for reading a book. Alina is a victim of sex trafficking by Russian Mafia. She forced to get into prostitution field. As the time goes by, their relationship gets closer. McCall really care about Alina’s problem, he tries to help Alina to get a better life. This research uses Abraham Maslow theory to analyze the way Robert McCall fulfills his needs until he gets his self-actualization.
Robert McCall’s Self-actualization is the ability to maximize his own potential to help anyone who are in trouble. McCall realizes his potential ability and he wants to use that potential. According to Maslow’s statement, self-actualization is the person who tries to determine how they define the self while maximizing their potential.
As the person who reach self-actualization, McCall has a characteristics of self-actualization person. The characteristics which appears when McCall reach his self-actualization are his perception which is more efficient toward his life challenges. After he reached his self-actualization, he become more creative and it is presented when he faces the evil man. Then he has a sense for jokes, it looks when McCall makes Alina laughed but she knows the jokes full of meaning. McCall also assertive to give his opinions and actions. Furthermore, McCall also becomes concerned in social life, he has social consciousness in his new life. In this case, it is presented by his actions when he faces the corrupt cops.
B. Suggestions
35
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